PETA Wants 1,222-Year-Old Tavern to Change Its Name Because It’s Disrespectful to Chickens

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Courtesy of Chris Maw.

Ye Olde Fighting Cocks is one of the oldest bars in England (possibly the oldest, depending on who you ask). The bar itself has been around in one form or another since 793, and its name has been the same since 1872. But People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would like to change all that out of respect for chickens.

“Today, kind people are appalled by the thought of forcing birds to fight to the death, and more people than ever are making the compassionate choice not to eat chickens, either,” says PETA UK Director Mimi Bekhechi. “Changing the name of Britain’s oldest pub to Ye Olde Clever Cocks would reflect today’s rejection of needless violence and help celebrate chickens as the intelligent, sensitive and social animals they are.”

Intelligent? Werner Herzog respectfully disagrees.

As you’ve probably guessed, the suggestion did not go over well with anyone outside of PETA. After an outpouring of support on social media, the bar refused to comply with the request.

“Firstly, we would just like to go on record and say that we are big fans of the work PETA do, their campaign for banning fur was spot on and something they managed magnificently,” a post on the bar’s website stated. “However, when it comes to the naming of historic English pubs, on this occasion, we think we might have pass them up on the offer of help!”

Courtesy of Marc Wilson.

This is the part of the post where I’m supposed to make a joke about the stupidity of PETA. But at the end of the day, they’re actually brilliant. Thanks to this silly request, everyone is talking about the organization. I’m writing about it, you’re reading about it, and idiots on social media are ranting about it. Plus, the bar in question received a ton of free positive publicity. It’s media manipulation at its finest.